Beware the MRI

This is a discussion on Beware the MRI within the General Firearm Discussion forums, part of the Related Topics category; This is interesting. I found it completely by accident looking for something else this morning.
OFFICER SAFETY WARNING
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Unit Causes
Malfunction ...

Beware the MRI

In July 2001, an officer from the Manheim Township (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania) Police Department had an incident where his issue firearm malfunctioned. The Smith & Wesson, Model 4013, .40 S&W caliber, semi-automatic pistol was found to have a magnetized firing pin, which stuck to the side of the channel within the slide. Upon inspection, it was determined that the entire pistol had become so magnetized that paper clips actually stuck to any metal surface. The department armorer was able to demagnetize the firearm with the use of a high-power, videotape-erasing unit after complete disassembly.

When the malfunction was discovered, the officer had no idea of when or how his pistol had become magnetized. A review of the officer’s activities, revealed that he had investigated a burglar alarm call at a medical office that was equipped with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit. During the investigation, the officer had walked into the MRI suite that magnetized the pistol. MRI medical personnel have detailed instructions on safety, which include keeping metal objects away from the unit. Upon further inspection, two additional officer’s firearms were also found to have been magnetized.

Investigations within medical facilities could magnetize an issue firearm rendering it inoperable.

The test to determine if a firearm has become magnetized is to place a paper clip next to the firearm.

If the paper clip sticks to the firearm, a supervisor should be notified immediately.

A trained department-designated officer should verify the firearm is magnetized and the firearm should be demagnetized with the use of a high-powered videotape-erasing unit after it has been completely disassembled.

The firearm should be test fired prior to being returned to service.

The fact that there is no outward sign that a firearm may not function as a result of MRI/magnetic exposure makes this problem difficult to detect. Awareness of this situation may prevent serious or deadly consequences.

Don't believe this for a second. Answered an alarm means to me that the buisness was closed,which means the MRI was OFF. This is a HUH ?? story. + what P95 said. -------

Not so, sir. The machine still produces a hefty magnetic field while in the standby mode. The main magnets are superconductive devices, and cannot just be flipped on and off like a lamp.

Originally Posted by Univ. of Chicago Training Manual

MRI Hazards

The MRI contains a very powerful magnet. This magnet is always turned on, even when the machine is not scanning, including all night, every night, every weekend, and even holidays. This magnet is so strong that it will pull heavy items (such as oxygen cylinders, beds, and stretchers) into the scanner.

The magnet attracts all ferro(iron)-magnetic objects, including:

Implants in patients or staff
Objects in pockets
Tools and equipment
These objects are attracted by the magnet. Such objects can become powerful projectiles and can cause serious injury or death. Patients and others have been killed in this way.

The only time the magnetic field is not at a high level is if the machine is completely shut down, which takes a long time to restart from. An emergency field quench, which does rapidly stop the magnetic field, causes thousands of dollars of damage to the machine.

We have two MRIs at my clinic. Personal electronics, metal implants in your body, credit cards, some types of watches and hearing aids all fare very poorly within the MRI magnetic field. There was a report in the literature a few years back, in which an inadequately restrained oxygen tank broke loose from its moorings, was pulled right into the bore of the MRI and struck a patient on the head, killing them. I wonder if an active field could generate enough force on a handgun to pull it from the holster. I try to stay out of our MRI suite, since I have three stainless steel pins in my left hip, from a femoral neck fracture I sustained several years ago in a bicycle crash. I assume that an active 5 Tesla field will not pull the pins right out of the bone, but I don't want to test that theory!

And let me tell you, the shielding that must surround the MRI suite is pretty pricy, too.

Msot guns are made from 410 or 416stainless steel which has enough carbon in it that it can be hardened...thus it can be very magnetic. The 300 series that is the most highly resisitant to corrosion are non-magnetic .